Mild renal failure induced by subchronic exposure to molybdenum: urinary kallikrein excretion as a marker of distal tubular effect.

In this study we investigated the effect of two molybdenum (Mo) doses (40 and 80 mg/kg/d) on renal function. Neither dose of Mo was able to induce significant hypertension in treated animals. Subchronic exposure to high doses of Mo resulted in a delay in body weight gain associated with mild renal failure marked by a decrease in glomerular filtration. An increase in diuresis and urinary kallikrein excretion associated with unchanged glycosuria and proximal tubular enzymuria (alanine aminopeptidase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) evoked a preferential mild effect at the distal tubule.